Thanks Rob!
Ah, good news Mark. Any pointers you could give me in the paperwork side would help, been a while since I did an import - a good few years. You can download the forms online I presume - you couldn't last time I did it!
Did you get a nice looking reg? When the DVLA had regional offices I'd pop in locally as they had one here and do it overnight. Always got a local Peterborough reg though ...hence why a lot of US cars in the east here have FAV reg no.s ...
What do you get now - is it just random?
I have KUJ 341J on an ex-Aussie RHD 240Z.
Issued a couple of weeks ago
'Age Related' plates from the DVLA are issued in blocks with the same three letter prefixes. The prefixes usually identify old cars that have been imported, but unless you know the particular prefix blocks they just look like period-issue numbers (which is the intention).
Thanks Mark, whenever you can sort something re the paperwork, I'd be grateful ...
Pre-'63 Yanks I was familiar with years ago that were brought in always seemed to be issued with YSV xxx or something - some old Scottish prefix ...
Well time for a major update, the car has finally arrived into our possession!
I've been told before by my dad that driving the Healey requires concentration is genuinely a tiring experience, and I must admit I've never really fully appreciated what he meant before getting behind the wheel of the Datsun and must confess to have felt very tired having done 90 odd miles on the Saturday. I will in part attribute this to getting used to driving a LHD car as well learning about road positioning and spacing along with all of the other factors, so call me a wimp if you will but I'm leaping into a different world of motoring from all of the 90's cars I've owned!
I'm sure there will be lots more to follow as things develop and we get more experience with the car
I know that you're going to love this car BUT feeling tired driving it is WRONG imho ! It's such an easy car to drive and if you feel that you're 'fighting it, there's something wrong in its set-up.
Mark, car looks fantastic! You must both be very pleased with it (forgetting the problems with the insurer).
So that is the MJP front valance and chin spoiler? Did it replace ALL the front valance then, or is that the original metal one and then the only piece you've put on is the chin spoiler there in black?
Car does look great. I'm guessing the front spoiler/valance is all one piece fiberglass with the chin bit painted black.
With regard to tiring driving the car. I find them very relaxing but I guess I'm more used to them. I popped to Watford yesterday in my 260z and it was a real pleasure to drive the 120miles. The LHD cars are even more comfortable with softer suspension. Good/new dampers make all the difference too.
I'll clarify, the car itself is very easy and comfortable to drive albeit it needs a 4 wheel alignment (slight pull to the left). I don't feel physically tired having driven the car, it just requires a lot more concentration that the cars I'm accustomed to. I suppose I felt mentally drained later that day.
By comparison I jumped into my sisters 2014 Mazda 3 diesel, that car is effortless to drive in every sense of the word and requires very little attention on the drivers part due to all of the gizmo's and electronic aids.
Now there's no shadow of a doubt which car I'd choose every time, its just a very different experience. I suppose I can in part attribute this to getting used to driving a LHD car in the UK (I don't begrudge this at all, however it takes some time to adjust your road positioning etc compared with RHD which is second nature). I'm also going from a car with modern fast road/track spec brakes to technology and drums from the 70's. Again not something I begrudge it just requires more thought in terms of looking ahead more and leaving bigger gaps etc. There's other points across similar lines and I'm sure as I dial myself it it will become second nature however at the moment it feels like baptism by fire, which ultimately left my brain a bit frazzled when it got a chance to shut down.
I can only conclude its just a new experience to me....
Already plans are afoot for this to be the Le Mans 24 Hours car next year
The car certainly has soft suspension and makes for a very nice cruiser, albeit it does like to nose dive slightly under heavy braking. We just want to enjoy it in its current guise and get as accustomed to it as possible, and we all know theres only one way to do that
Sounds like you (and many others) have been too coddled with only modern cars and a Z requires that you 'plug' into it - not point and steer, a bit like Avatar and their 'pig-tails'. Once you 'feel' the car - it'll all happen in synchronicity.
And if you're coming to Le Mans, I expect you to contact me beforehand so we can meet up along with several other Zs living nearby !